James Brooke, VOA Moscow Bureau Chief

“I had been a journalist for probably 30 years, and decided to take a try at business. In 2007, I signed with an American company in Moscow to be the business development director. I had been an observer all my life. Now to be a player and to make money for a company – it was a good mental stretch. But due to the global economic situation that job ended and I came back to journalism in 2010. In June of that year, I was hired by VOA to be the Moscow Bureau Chief and it’s a lot of fun! The challenges are getting videos, you have to think pictures and images and telling a story through pictures. You need to get those pictures and do it in a way where you minimize the hassle to people in Washington. The blog, too, is a lot of fun. You put out your researched opinions on current events. I’ve covered 14 wars in 60 countries, so at this stage in my life I have a good understanding of how politics evolve and the roles of what happens. No one can predict where they’re going, but you know what’s in the background. I’ve got 20 years of Russia under my belt, the comings and goings, and that’s really important to get a sense of where this massive country is moving. I love the job! That’s why I’m doing it. I think I appreciate it more having jumped off the treadmill and then coming back in. You freshen up; you have new eyes and new energy.”

VOA Moscow Bureau Chief reports for Voice of America in radio, video and Internet providing direct information from Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Georgia, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Libya. His journalistic work experience includes reporting for The New York Times, Bloomberg News and The Miami Herald. He holds a BA from Yale University in Latin American Studies with a strong focus in Russian language. Brooke speaks French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Russian and basic Japanese. His experience in the business field makes him not only a well-rounded professional but also a great asset to Voice of America. You can read his news reports on VOA’s website as well as follow his blog, Russia Watch, for the latest on the country’s trending topics.